Meet our 2025 Collaborative Discussion Visiting Fellows!
And sign up for a Foundations of Collaborative Discussion Workshop to improve your own discussions! Last chance to get the early bird discount for the March 1 workshop!
Dear collaborative discussion friends,
This week we are excited to introduce our 2025 Collaborative Discussion Visiting Fellows! Throughout 2025, our three Fellows will be contributing their expertise to developing new activities for the freely-accessible Collaborative Discussion Toolkit and working on content for exciting new workshops and trainings. This important work will help expand the practice of collaborative discussion, equipping more people with the tools to engage in meaningful, productive conversations.
You can also improve your own discussions by leveraging the power of the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit. Sign up for a Foundations of Collaborative Discussion workshop, where we will model activities that you can use to have better conversations and improve collaboration.
The workshop is being offered on two different dates, February 18 and March 1. Choose the date that works best for you:
Tuesday, February 18th from 6 pm - 8 pm ET. Today is the last chance to register!
Saturday, March 1st from 10 am - 12 pm ET. Register by this Wednesday, February 12th to get the early bird price of $25!
If you missed the previous newsletter, Reimagining Recruitment in Education: Collaborative Discussions Driving Change in Harrisonburg, you can access it and our other weekly newsletters by subscribing below.
Meet our CDP Visiting Fellows
Lori Britt
Director & Professor, School of Communication Studies, and Co-Director, Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue (ICAD), James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
Fellowship Focus: Civic Collaboration
Lori Britt is Director and Professor in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University and co-director of the Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue (ICAD). She teaches courses in organizational communication, leadership, dialogue and deliberation, and the design and facilitation of processes for productive talk. Through ICAD, Lori aims to shape conversations that impact individuals, organizations, and communities.
Her teaching and work is infused with a passion for training students and practitioners to design and facilitate conversations where people can tackle challenging issues that face our communities and workplaces. Lori believes that well-designed and well-facilitated discussions can help people stay ‘at the table’--even when the issues are difficult–creating greater opportunities to collaboratively find solutions.
Don Waisanen
Founder & President, Communication Upward, and Professor at Baruch College, CUNY
New York, NY
Fellowship Focus: Creative Collaboration
Don Waisanen is a pracademic who teaches, researches, and consults on strategic communication and civic engagement, and strives to help others level up in these areas. A Professor at Baruch College CUNY and an adjunct at Columbia and NYU, Don also founded and leads Communication Upward, a consultancy offering professional development workshops and expert facilitation.
With seven books to his name, including Improv for Democracy and Leadership Standpoints, not to mention a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Southern California, Don integrates creativity and strategic thinking into his work.Â
Don is a tennis fanatic, Duolingo enthusiast, and sometimes even known to perform improv comedy. Learn more about his work and sign up for his monthly newsletter on elevating communication at www.donwaisanen.com.
John Igwebuike
Founder, The Lead Listening Institute
Chicago, IL
Fellowship Focus: Active Listening
Dr. John G. Igwebuike is a thought leader, facilitator, and DEI consultant specializing in effective listening as a tool for fostering inclusion and belonging. As the founder of The Lead Listening Institute, he helps organizations, groups, and individuals develop listening skills that ensure all voices feel heard, valued, and understood.
John’s expertise spans focus-group facilitation, restorative justice, and leadership training. He is the founder of the Guanacaste: Transformational Listening Conference (TLC) and has authored multiple books, including I Want to Hear You: 22 Tips for Artful Listening Before, During, and After a Conversation and I Listen and So Can You, a children’s book on listening now being used in schools across the U.S.
A licensed attorney and lifelong learner, John holds a J.D. from the Robert H. McKenney School of Law at Indiana University, a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, and masters degrees from both the Ohio State University and California State Polytechnic University. His TEDx Talk on Active Listening can be viewed here.
Curious to learn more? Sign up for a Foundations of Collaborative Discussion Workshop
Want to bring these tools to your workplace, community, or classroom to improve your own discussions? Sign up for a workshop!
The workshop is being offered on two different dates, February 18 and March 1. Choose the date that works best for you:
Tuesday, February 18th from 6 pm - 8 pm ET. Today is the last day to register!
Saturday, March 1st from 10 am - 12 pm ET. Register by this Wednesday, February 12th to get the early bird price of $25!
Other Upcoming Events
Introduction to the CDP Toolkit Webinar. Learn about our free toolkit of activities designed to build and support collaborative discussion skills and mindsets. All are welcome! Choose the date that works best for you and register now:
Looking forward to collaborating,
The Collaborative Discussion Project Team